Toilet having odor removing and automatic seat lifting capacity

ABSTRACT

An improved toilet having the conventional features of a standard toilet and with the toilet seat defining a hollow first opening extending around the toilet. The seat further defines a plurality of second openings extending from the exterior surface of the seat into the first opening. A vacuum device draws air from the bowl area through the openings and through an odor removing filtration device. The toilet further has an automatic seat raising and lowering system comprising a motor and a belt assembly system connecting the motor to the rear protruding portion of the seat. Finally, the toilet has a receptacle placed thereon for holding water.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to a toilet and, more particularly, this invention relates to an improved toilet having odor removing and automatic seat lifting capabilities.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] There are many different type of toilets ranging in size and style. The conventional toilet has a bowl, an adjacent water holding tank, a manual flush lever, and a toilet seat which is raised and lowered manually. Many improvements have been made or added to toilets.

[0005] One type of improvements are devices that have been invented to raise and lower the seat without using one's hand. For added comfort, automatic toilet seat lifting systems have been developed for toilets. One such device utilizes a foot pedal having a lever connected to an elongated rod which connects to the back edge of the toilet seat. Pressing the pedal causing the lever to raise the rod causing the seat to rise and lock into place. Releasing the pedal from the pressed in position causes the rod to be lowered which in turn lowers the seat. An inconvenience with this type of device is that one must still utilize his feet to raise and lower the seat. There are other seat devices which utilizes a motor with the seat being hinged to the motor, and turning of the motor in the forward and reverse direction raises and lowers the seat in the corresponding direction. A problem potentially with these devices is the susceptibility to breakage when users mistakenly try to manually raise and lower the seats by force without using the automatic system. Such manual action can break down the mechanism comprising the automatic systems.

[0006] Toilets have also been improved by installing odor removing devices. Many of the odor removing devices of the prior art comprise a ventilation system which draws odor emitting air away from the toilet and out into another area outside the restroom such as a sewer vent. One such device is taught by Buchanan in U.S. Pat. No. 4,200,940. Buchanan teaches a toilet having a hollow seat and a plurality of radial holes leading in the seat leading into the hollow center of the seat. A vacuum device connected via a conduit to the seat draws air from the opening through an incinerator device toward the vacuum. The incinerator device is an electrical grid placed in the passageway between the seat and the vacuum.

[0007] Another improvement is the toilet seat covering napkin. Such seat cover napkins are utilized mostly in public restrooms and hotel restrooms for sanitary and health reasons. However, the seat covering napkins are placed in a dispenser that is separate from the toilet and not forming a part of the toilet.

[0008] Other improvements are devices such as bidets or devices which perform the function of bidets. U.S. Pat. No. 4,967,423 issued to Aoyama for “Bidet Attachment for Toilet Bowls” teaches a bidet attachment for the underside of a toilet seat having selectively actuated outlets at the front and rear side thereof. The bidet attachment is connected to the hot and cold water pipes with control valves for temperature adjustment. Another such improvement is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,195,369 issued to Lesick for “Portable Bidet Attachment” discloses a bidet attachment including a clamp and a nozzle assembly which is designed for quick attachment to any conventional toilet. Further, U.S. Pat. No. 4,550,454 issued to Yui for “Toilet-Bowl Bidet Apparatus” discloses an add-on bidet which includes a molded plastic seat having a channel-shaped cross-section. A water spray nozzle is attached to the central area of the toilet seat. These prior art serve its function in providing a personal cleansing device for a toilet user. However, it is desirable to provide more simple and less costly improvement to the toilet to effectuate the same personal cleansing function.

[0009] None of the prior art teaches a toilet having the improvements and combined features as taught by the present invention.

[0010] Thus, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a toilet having an automatic seat raising and lowering capability as well as an odor removing capability. It is another objective of the present invention to provide a toilet having an attached housing for dispensing disposable seat cover napkins. It is yet another objective to provide a toilet having the capability to allow a user to effectively cleanse himself.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The present invention is an improved toilet having the conventional features of a standard toilet. The improvement is in the installation of an odor removing system and an automatic toilet seat raising and lowering system. A further improvement is in the attachment of a housing member for holding and dispensing toilet seat cover napkins. Another improvement is in the addition of a receptacle for holding water placed on the toilet which allows a user to more effectively cleanse himself after toilet use.

[0012] The odor removing system includes a hollow toilet seat defining a hollow first opening extending around the seat and a having a plurality of second openings extending from the exterior surface into the first opening. A vacuum device connects to the first opening of the toilet seat. An air filtration device is placed between the toilet seat and the vacuum device so that the air drawn in through the second and first openings of the toilet seat passes through the air filtration device.

[0013] The seat lifting system comprises a motor installed in toilet behind the seat. A belt system connects the motor to the seat in a manner whereby revolution of the motor will raise and lower the seat.

[0014] For increased odor removing capability, the toilet may further comprise a heat conducting wire element placed within the first opening for burning odorous gases passing through said first opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015]FIG. 1 is a side view of the present invention.

[0016]FIG. 2 is a cross sectional side view of the present invention.

[0017]FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the present invention.

[0018]FIG. 4 is a top cross-sectional view of the present invention with the seat in the lowered position and cut along the 7-7 line of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0019] The present invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 is an improved toilet 10 having the features of a conventional toilet including a toilet bowl 20 with a toilet seat 21 hingeably mounted on the toilet bowl 20 at a hinge point 22 (shown in FIG. 2), a water holding tank 25 attached behind and adjacent the bowl 20. The seat 21 is hollow, has an exterior surface 26, and defines a first opening 27 extending around the seat 21. The seat 21 further defines a plurality of second openings 30 extending from the exterior surface 26 and leading into the first opening 27.

[0020] As part of the odor removing system as shown in FIG. 4, the toilet 10 comprises an air filtration device 35 and a vacuum device 40. The air filtration device 35 connects via a tubular element 39 to the seat 21 and into the first opening 27. The filtration device 35 can be any of the type known in the prior art which performs the function of filtering odors from air including the carbon based filtration devices. The vacuum device 40 draws air from the toilet bowl 20 area via the second openings 30 and the first opening 27 and through the filtration device 35. The vacuum device 40 can either connect to the filtration device 35 as shown in FIG. 4 or form part of the filtration device 35 (not shown). The vacuum device 40 can be any of the devices known in the prior art which draws air inward such as a fan device 41. After the inwardly drawn air is filtered through the filtration device 35, the resulting odor-free air is discharged.

[0021] For improved odor removing capability, the odor removing system can further include a heat conducting wire element 43 placed within the first opening 27 for burning odorous gases passing through said first opening 27. The wire element 43 should extend around the entire seat 21 within the first opening 27. In the preferred embodiment, the heat conducting wire element 43 is made of tungsten. However, the wire 43 can be made of any suitable material known in the prior art to conduct heat well.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 2, the seat lifting system of the present invention comprises a motor 50 disposed on the toilet 10 behind the hinge point of the seat 21. An arm 53 protrudes from the edge of the motor 50. A belt assembly connects the arm 53 to the seat 21. The rear end 52 of the seat 21 protrudes to extend behind the hinge point 22. The belt assembly has a belt member 59 which has a first end 55 connecting to the arm 53 and has a second end 58 connecting to the protruding end 52 of the seat 21. One or more roller members 65 are placed on the toilet 10 between the first end 55 and second end 58 of the belt member 59. The belt member 59 is guided on the roller members 65. The belt member 59 is not limited to a belt made of flexible plastic or rubber material but can also be a metal wire or another suitable alternative material known in the prior art to perform the same function. FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the belt assembly having one roller member 65. As the motor 50 rotates the arm 53 in the upward direction, the belt member 59 pulls the protruding end 60 of the seat 21, thus raising the seat 21. And as the motor 50 rotates the arm 53 in the downward direction, the seat 21 is allowed to be lowered.

[0023] The toilet 10 for added convenience can have a housing member 68 placed thereon for holding and dispensing toilet seat covering napkins.

[0024] Furthermore, for increased personal hygiene, the toilet 10 further comprises a water holding receptacle 70 placed thereon. Water can be provided manually into the receptacle 70 or a conduit 77 can be provided for supplying water into the receptacle 70 from the water holding tank 25. The conduit 77 has a first end 80 leading into the water holding tank 25 and a second end 84 leading into the water holding receptacle 70. General differential in water pressure causes water to flow from the tank 25 toward the receptacle 70. To control the flow of water coming into the receptacle 70, a valve device 71 can be placed on the conduit 77. The motor 50, vacuum device 40, and filtration device 35, and heat conducting wire element 43 can be supplied with power from a power supply source forming part the toilet 10 such as a battery (not shown) or a power supply source independent of the toilet 10 such as an electrical outlet (not shown).

[0025] Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described and illustrated for purposes of clarity and example, it should be understood that many changes, substitutions and modifications to the described embodiment will be apparent to those having skill in the art in light of the foregoing disclosure without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention which is defined by the claims which follow. 

What is claimed as being new and therefore desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:
 1. In a toilet having a toilet bowl and a water holding tank attached behind and adjacent the bowl, the improvement comprising: a hollow toilet seat having an exterior surface hingeably mounted on said toilet bowl, said toilet seat defining a hollow first opening extending around the seat and a having a plurality of second openings extending from the exterior surface into the first opening; an air filtration device connected by a tubular element with said toilet seat, said tubular element leading into said first opening; and, a vacuum device connecting to said air filtration device for drawing air from said second openings through said first opening and through said air filtration device whereby any odorous gases are filtered out and the resulting odor-free air is discharged.
 2. The toilet as described in claim 1 further comprising a housing member disposed on said toilet for holding and dispensing toilet seat covering napkins.
 3. The toilet as described in claim 1 further comprising a water holding receptacle disposed thereon.
 4. The toilet as described in claim 1 further comprising a heat conducting wire element disposed within said first opening for burning odorous gases passing through said first opening and said wire element extending around the entire seat.
 5. The toilet as described in claim 4 wherein said wire element is wire made of tungsten.
 6. In combination, a toilet having a toilet bowl and a water holding tank attached behind and adjacent the bowl, said toilet comprising an odor removing system and an automatic seat lifting system: said odor removing system comprising: a hollow toilet seat hingeably mounted on said toilet bowl at a hinge point of said seat, said toilet having an exterior surface and rear protruding portion, and said toilet seat defining a hollow first opening extending around the seat and a having a plurality of second openings extending from the exterior surface into the first opening; an air filtration device connected by a tubular element with said toilet seat, said tubular element leading into said first opening; a vacuum device connecting to said air filtration device for drawing air from said second openings through said first opening and through said air filtration device whereby any odorous gases are filtered out and the resulting odor-free air is discharged; said seat lifting system comprising: a motor disposed on said toilet rearwardly of said hinge point of said seat; and, a belt assembly system having a first end of said belt connecting to said motor and having a second end of said belt connecting to said rear protruding portion of said seat; whereby revolution of the motor will raise and lower said seat.
 7. The toilet as described in claim 6 further comprising a housing member disposed on said toilet for holding and dispensing toilet seat covering napkins.
 8. The toilet as described in claim 6 further comprising a water holding receptacle disposed thereon.
 9. The toilet as described in claim 6 further comprising a heat conducting wire element disposed within said first opening for burning odorous gases passing through said first opening and said wire element extending around the entire seat.
 10. The toilet as described in claim 9 wherein said wire element is wire made of tungsten.
 11. The toilet as described in claim 6 wherein the air filtration device is a carbon based filtration system.
 12. A toilet comprising: a toilet bowl; and a water holding tank attached behind and adjacent the bowl; a toilet seat hingeably attached over the toilet bowl; and, a water holding receptacle disposed on the toilet.
 13. A toilet as described in claim 12 further comprising a conduit having a first end leading into the water holding tank and a second end leading into the water holding receptacle.
 14. In a toilet having a toilet bowl, a water holding tank attached behind and adjacent the bowl, and a toilet seat hingeably mounted at a hinge point to said bowl, the improvement comprising: an protrusion extending beyond the rear end of the seat at said hinge point of said seat; a motor disposed on said toilet behind said hinge point of said seat; a belt assembly system having a first end of said belt connecting to said motor and having a second end of said belt connecting to said seat behind said hinge point; whereby revolution of the motor will raise and lower said seat.
 15. A toilet as described in claim 14 further comprising: a roller member placed on said toilet between said first end and second end of said belt of said belt assembly system and below said motor; and, said belt member pressing against said roller member and said roller member guiding the movement of said belt.
 16. The toilet as described in claim 14 further comprising a housing member disposed on said toilet for holding and dispensing toilet seat covering napkins.
 17. The toilet as described in claim 14 further comprising a water holding receptacle disposed thereon.
 18. A toilet as described in claim 17 further comprising a conduit having a first end leading into the water holding tank and a second end leading into the water holding receptacle. 